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Lands  in   Southern 
California  and  How  to 


UC-NRLF 


MD    217 


ncle  Sam's  Lands  in  Southern 
California  and  How  to 
Acquire  Them 

Issued  by  the 

LOS  ANGELES  CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE 


Revised  Feb.   1,  1914,  by  O.  R.  W.  Robinson 
Receiver  U.  S.  Land  Office 


DESERT 

There  is  a  general  and  erroneous  impression  abroad  that  all  good 
government  land  in  Southern  California  has  long  ago  been  appro- 
bated. Nine  million  acres,  most  of  it  so-called  "desert"  land,  are 
itill  offered  for  reclamation  or  settlement. 

There  is  desert  and  desert.  There  is  land  so  poor  that  it  will  re- 
Lain  practically  barren  under  irrigation.  Very  little  of  the  desert  land 
>f  Southern  California  is  of  this  type.  Wherever,  after  the  rains,  the 
'desert"  wears  a  thick  and  variegated  dress  of  wild  flowers,  indications 
good  that  under  irrigation  the  land  will  be  fertile  all  the  time.  One 
o  first  sees  the  brown  bare  earth  in  the  dry  season,  stripped  of  its 
Iress  of  flowers,  can  hardly  conceive  of  the  transformation  wrought  by 
rain ;  and  conversely,  one  who  sees  it  in  bloom,  can  hardly  believe  the 
;ransformation  wrought  by  drought.  The  departure  of  the  rain  is  like 
:he  stroke  of  the  midnight  bell  which  turned  Cinderella  from  a  fairy 
•rincess  back  into  a  cinder-maid;  and  its  coming  is  like  a  touch  from 
:he  magic  wand  of  the  fairy  godmother. 

All  of  Southern  California  was  once  considered  desert  land.  Who 
[iceds  telling  now  that  it  contains  the  garden  spots  of  America?  But 
low  many  would  not  have  laughed  at  the  idea  before  the  industry  of 
;he  pioneers  developed  it?  But  a  few  years  ago  the  fertile  Imperial 
ind  Coachella  valleys  were  parts  of  the  Colorado  Desert,  no  less  arid 
nid  uninviting  than  the  rest.  It  required  that  almost  divine  faculty, 
Imagination,  to  see  that  this  barren  land  could  be  made  productive. 
To  him  who  responded  to  its  cry  for  water  the  grateful  earth  bears 
lowers  without  ceasing,  and  crop  after  crop  the  year  around. 

Despite  former  object  lessons,  it  still  requires  imagination  to  con- 
reive  that  in  the  Colorado  and  Mojave  desert  regions,  where  for  eight 
>r  nine  months  of  the  year  there  is  never  a  drop  of  moisture  for  the 
>arching  surface  and  the  sun  beats  down  on  vast  gray  and  brown 
stretches  broken  only  by  tufts  of  desert  grass  and  weird  cacti  shapes, 
[arge  sections  of  the  land  can  be  made  by  irrigation  as  fertile  and 
farming  as  the  cultivated  portion  of  Southern  California. 

RECLAMATION 

Bear    this    well    in    mind:      WITHOUT    WATER  the  land  is 

'ORTHLESS  ;  WITH  WATER  much  of  it  is  RICH.    Even  the 

ilkali  land  can  in  course  of  time  be  reclaimed  by  irrigation  and  become 
fairly  good  land,  but  the  time  and  expenditure  involved  would  better 

91&347 


//  J^>  +-  "TO 


be  applied  on  land  that  costs  more  in  the  beginning  and  will  bring 
more  and  quicker  returns. 

Where  lands  border  upon  streams  or  lakes,  the  individual  settler 
may  bring  the  water  direct  from  them  upon  the  land.  There  are  other 
favored  sections  where  the  water  is  below  the  surface  and  needs  only 
an  outlet,  as  in  the  artesian  districts  near  Indio  and  Lancaster.  These 
are  the  simple  problems  in  irrigation,  and  easily  solved.  In  the  ma- 
jority of  instances  water  must  be  brought  from  considerable  distances. 
For  the  individual  to  attempt  this  is  prodigal  waste,  or  an  impossi- 
bility. So  Uncle  Sam,  who  is  a  very  paternal  uncle,  has  undertaken 
vast  irrigating  enterprises  in  Southern  California  and  elsewhere 
Work  along  similar  lines  to  that  undertaken  by  the  government  has 
also  been  effected  by  large  corporations.  In  the  Imperial  Valley,  for 
instance,  companies  have  sold  water  rights  at  $10  per  acre  to  accom- 
pany desert  land  filed  upon.  At  present  these  rights  are  not  to  be  had 
at  less  than  $20  to  $25  per  acre.  In  the  Antelope  Valley,  also,  water 
rights  amount  to  several  times  the  cost  of  the  land  and  improvements 
required  by  the  government. 

Every  person  intending  to  settle  upon  or  reclaim  government 
lands  should  acquaint  himself  thoroughly  with  the  character  of  the 
soil  and  the  situation  with  regard  to  water  before  filing  upon  the 
land.  This  course  will  prevent  him  from  suffering  the  disappoint- 
ments and  heartaches  that  have  come  to  those  who  leaped  before  they 
looked. 

Where  persons  settle  upon  unsurveyed  lands,  they  are  entitled  to 
a  ninety  days'  preference  right  of  filing  when  lands  are  surveyed  and 
open  for  settlement;  and  upon  proof  of  cultivation  or  reclamation 
work  are  allowed  credit  for  same  and  for  time  spent  in  living  upon  or 
reclaiming  the  land. 

DESERT  LANDS  MAY  BE  HOMESTEADED 

DESERT  LANDS  MAY  BE  TAKEN  UP  UNDER  THE 
HOMESTEAD  LAW,  if  the  requirements  of  that  law  better  suit  the 
entryman;  but  non-arid  HOMESTEAD  LANDS  MAY  NOT  BE 
TAKEN  UP  UNDER  THE  DESERT  LAND  LAW.  Where  persons 
intend  making  actual  settlement  it  costs  less  to  take  up  land  under 
the  homestead  system  than  under  the  desert  land  act;  but  an  addi- 
tional year  is  required  before  proving  up.  Most  of  the  nine  million 
acres  of  public  domain  still  to  be  had  in  Southern  California  is  called 
"desert"  land  and  is  desert  land  according  to  the  definition  given  by 
the  government.  An  entryman  can  therefore  take  his  choice  of  the 
two  methods  of  acquiring  it,  the  important  requirements  of  which  are 
later  in  this  folder  placed  side  by  side  bringing  out  clearly  points  of 
similarity  and  difference. 

LOS  ANGELES  LAND  DISTRICT 

While  there  are  eight  United  States  local  land  offices  in  Califor- 
nia, the  one  at  Los  Angeles  has  control  over  the  major  portion  of  the 
public  domain  in  that  part  of  the  state  universally  known  as  Southern 
California.  This  district  is  two  hundred  miles  north  and  south  by 
three  hundred  east  and  west,  embracing  all  of  Los  Angeles,  Orange, 
San  Diego,  Imperial  and  Riverside  counties  and  portions  of  San  Ber- 
nardino, Ventura,  Kern  and  Santa  Barbara  counties.  The  remainder 


of  San  Bernardino  county  is  in  the  Independence  District.  Those  por- 
tions of  Ventura  and  Santa  Barbara  counties  not  in  the  Los  Angeles 
District  are  in  the  San  Francisco  District.  That  part  of  Kern  county 
not  in  the  Los  Angeles  District  is  divided  between  the  Independence 

and  Visalia  Districts. 

REGIONS  WHERE  GOVERNMENT  LAND  MAY 

BE  FOUND 

The  principal  regions  where  government  land  is  still  to  be  found 
in  the  Los  Angeles  District  are  in  or  near  the  Santa  Monica  Moun- 
tains, which  extend  from  Santa  Monica-by-the-sea  in  Los  Angeles 
County  along  the  coast  into  the  lower  portion  of  Ventura  County,  or 
in  the  level,  railroad-traversed  Mojave  and  Colorado  deserts.  The 
Imperial,  Coachella  and  Palo  Verde  valleys  are  included  within  the 
Colorado  Desert  region.  The  first  two  named  are  in  Imperial  County, 
lately  formed  from  the  eastern  half  of  San  Diego  County,  while  the 
Palo  Verde  Valley  is  contiguous  to  them,  being  in  the  extreme  south- 
eastern portion  of  Riverside  County.  The  Mojave  Desert  region,  or  a 
portion  of  it,  is  more  popularly  known  as  the  Antelope  Valley,  and 
contains  much  land  that  is  rich  when  irrigated. 

Townships  along  the  Colorado  have  been  reserved  for  reclamation 
by  federal  canals,  a  portion  being  open  under  the  strictest  application 
of  the  homestead  laws,  the  remainder  temporarily  withdrawn.  Little 
timber  land  remains  vacant,  most  of  it  being  now  included  in  the 
mountain  forest  reserves.  The  channel  islands  unpatented  are  re- 
served for  government  purposes  under  the  Treasury  Deparment. 

CROPS  THAT  MAY  BE  SUCCESSEULLY  RAISED 

Mountainous  land,  as  in  the  Santa  Monica  mountains,  is  suitable 
for  stock  and  bees,  and  when  irrigated,  produces  apples,  cherries,  and 
other  deciduous  fruits.  Foothills  and  rolling  lands  produce,  where 
there  is  a  water  supply,  olives,  oranges,  limes,  lemons,  grape  fruit, 
berries  and  alfalfa.  In  seasons  of  abundant  rainfall  grain  is  a  profit- 
able crop  on  the  mesas  (table  lands),  and  thousands  of  acres  of  wine 
grapes  are  now  profitably  grown  thereon  without  irrigation. 

Desert  lands  in  the  Antelope,  Coachella,  Imperial  and  Palo  Verde 
valleys,  and  other  portions  of  the  Mojave  and  Colorado  deserts,  pro- 
duce when  irrigated  melons,  especially  canteloupes,  grapes,  corn,  win- 
ter and  summer  vegetables,  alfalfa  and  similar  crops,  and,  in  some  lo- 
calities, oranges.  The  raising  of  hogs  is  a  great  industry  in  the  Im- 
perial Valley.  They  are  turned  loose  in  the  alfalfa  fields,  and  their 
meat  is  much  sweeter  than  that  of  trough-fed  hogs.  In  the  Coachella 
and  Imperial  valleys  there  is  a  future  for  dates,  sugar  beets  and  cotton. 
It  has  been  demonstrated  that  this  region  will  produce  finer  cotton 
than  any  in  the  United  States.  The  only  reason  that  government 
lands  are  still  to  be  had  in  this  fertile  valley  is  the  comparatively  re- 
cent date  when  the  Colorado  River  was  made  available  for  supplying 
the  water  necessary  for  irrigation.  The  lands  have  been  rapidly  filed 
upon.  Large  sections  were  withdrawn  from  settlement  pending  a  re- 
survey;  but  a  number  of  townships  are  already  re-opened,  and  the 
boundaries  of  all  are  now  adjusted.  Settlers  on  unsurveyed  land  are 
given  a  ninety  days'  preference  right  to  file  claims  after  the  land  is 
surveyed. 


The  filling  up  of  government  lands  in  this  southernmost  part  of 
Southern  California  has  not  been  devoid  of  picturesque  pioneer  fea- 
tures. Shotguns  have  been  the  bedfellows  of  some  of  the  settlers,  and 
in  one  place  an  observation  tower  was  built,  from  which  the  settler 
scanned  the  horizon  for  claim  jumpers.  It  is  almost  unnecessary  to 
say  that  these  were  cases  of  extreme  zeal  in  defending  a  tentative 
right. 

HOW  GOVERNMENT  LAND  MAY  BE  SECURED 

The  General  Land  Office  at  Washington  does  not  issue  maps 
showing  the  location  of  vacant  public  lands  subject  to  entry;  neither 
will  any  specific  description  of  the  land,  water,  climate  or  timber  be 
given. 

Persons  who  desire  to  take  out  homestead  or  desert  land  claims 
in  Southern  California  must  themselves  find  and  decide  upon  the 
lands.  They  should  then  write  or  go  to  the  local  land  office  of  the 
district  in  which  the  lands  are  situated  and  obtain  from  the  records 
diagrams  of  the  vacant  lands.  Information  as  to  whether  or  not  a 
particular  tract  of  surveyed  land  has  been  filed  upon  may  be  obtained 
upon  inquiry.  The  registrar  and  receiver  will  give  advice  as  to  law 
and  procedure,  but  are  not  officially  cognizant  of  the  character  of  un- 
entered land  and  are  not  expected  to  give  information  regarding  same, 
neither  are  they  expected  to  furnish  extended  lists  of  land  subject  to 
entry,  except  through  plats  and  diagrams  which  they  are  authorized 
to  make  and  sell  as  follows,  whenever  the  other  business  of  the  office 
will  permit. 

For  a  township  diagram  showing  unentered  land  only.  ...  $1 

For  a  township  plat  showing  form  of  entries,  names  of 
claimants  and  character  of  entries $2 

For  a  township  plat  showing  form  of  entries,  names  of 
claimants,  character  of  entry  and  number $3 

For  a  township  plat  showing  form  of  entries,  names  of 
claimants,  character  of  entry,  number,  and  date  of 
filing  or  entry,  together  with  topography,  etc $4 

Such  maps  are  open  to  inspection  in  all  local  land  offices.  Writ- 
ten applications  for  these  maps  should  be  accompanied  by  remittances 
of  the  proper  amount  to  the  receiver  of  the  office,  and  should  state 
specifically  the  number  of  township  and  range  for  which  plats  or 
diagrams  are  desired. 

The  United  States  Geological  Survey  issues  atlas  sheets  of 
Southern  California  and  elsewhere,  which  show  United  States  town- 
ship and  section  lines ;  located  townships  and  section  corners ;  and 
township  and  section  corners  not  found.  Some  stationers  have  these 
maps  on  sale  at  five  cents  a  sheet. 

When  the  intending  settler  has  decided  upon  the  region  he  de- 
sires, he  is  required  both  under  the  homestead  and  desert  land  laws 
to  inspect  it  in  person.  If  he  is  not  capable  of  finding  the  land  himself 
he  should  have  some  competent  and  trustworthy  person  show  him 
every  forty-acre  subdivision.  This  is  necessary  for  the  reason  that 
the  entryman  must  swear,  in  his  application,  that  he  is  familiar  with 
the  tract,  having  been  over  forty-acre  subdivision  thereof,  that 
it  contains  no  mines,  that  it  is  not  mineral  in  character,  and  that  it  is 
not  inhabited  or  occupied  by  any  Indian.  He  should  be  on  the  alert 
when  dealing  with  some  so-called  "land  locators,"  and  not  be  beguiled 


into  paying  unreasonable  fees  to  unscrupulous  persons  for  showing 
him  a  piece  of  desirable  land,  purporting  it  to  be  vacant  and  open  for 
entry,  when  in  reality  it  is  already  patented  or  appropriated.  In  this 
case  the  homesteader  files  his  application  supposedly  for  the  land 
shown  him,  but  in  fact  for  an  altogether  different  tract  of  unsuitable 
land,  sometimes  miles  away,  which  is  vacant  probably  because  of  its 
worthlessness  for  agricultural  purposes.  The  old  maxim,  "Be  sure 
you  are  right,  then  go  ahead/'  if  followed,  will  save  the  entryman  an 
endless  amount  of  trouble  and  expense.  For  those  who  desire  further 
and  fuller  information  than  can  be  put  into  this  brief  space,  applica- 
tion in  person  or  through  the  mail  to  the  local  land  office  at  Los 
Angeles  will  secure  two  circulars,  one  containing  suggestions  to  in- 
tending homesteaders  and  the  other  to  those  desiring  to  enter  land 
under  the  desert  land  act.  Land  laws  may  be  had  by  application  to 
the  General  Land  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Following  is  a  brief  recital  of  the  main  points  of  the  homestead 
and  desert  lands  laws: 


HOMESTEAD  ENTRY 


DESERT  LAND  ENTRY 


Persons  Entitled  to  Make  Entry 


Males  and  single  women  over 
21  years  of  age,  and  heads  of  fam- 
ilies under  the  age  of  21  'years 
who  are  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  or  have  declared  their  in- 
tention to  become  citizens;  de- 
serted wives,  or  those  whose  hus- 
bands are  imprisoned  or  mentally 
incapacitated ;  and  minors  who 
have  served  at  least  14  days  in 
the  army  or  navy.  To  make  final 
proof,  entryman  must  have  been 
admitted  to  full  citizenship. 


Males  and  single  women  over 
21  years  of  age,  residents  of  state 
where  entry  is  made  and  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  or  who 
have  declared  intention  to  be- 
come citizens.  Married  women 
who  make  the  entry  for  their 
own  use  and  with  their  own  rrion- 
ey  may  also  take  up  desert  land 
claims.  At  time  of  making  final 
proof  entryman  must  have  been 
admitted  to  full  citizenship. 


Lands  Subject  to  Entry 


All  unappropriated  surveyed 
public  lands  not  mineral  or  sa- 
line, and  not  embraced  within  the 
limits  of  any  withdrawal  reserva- 
tion, or  incorporated  town  or 
city.  A  settler  on  unsurveyed 
public  lands  must  plainly  mark 
the  boundaries;  and  when  the 
lands  are  surveyed  he  is  given  a 
three  months'  preference  right  to 
file  a  homestead  claim.  Home- 
stead entries  on  land  withdrawn 
under  the  reclamation  act  must 
be  entered  subject  to  special  reg- 
ulations, and  Reclamation  Pro- 
ject, Washington,  D.  C.,  must  be 
addressed  for  details. 


All  surveyed  lands  not  saline 
or  mineral  in  character,  which 
will  not  produce  a  reasonably  re- 
munerative agricultural  crop 
without  irrigation,  are  classed  as 
desert  lands.  In  the  declaration 
filed,  the  land  must  be  described 
particularly.  Where  a  bona  fide 
desert  land  entry  is  included 
within  the  limits  of  a  withdrawal 
or  irrigation  project  the  entry- 
man who  owns  a  water  right  is 
not  required  to  accept  the  condi- 
tions of  the  reclamation  act. 


HOMESTEAD  ENTRY  DESERT  LAND  ENTRY 

Quantity  of  Land  Allowed  One  Person 


An  entryman  may  enter  160 
acres,  and  if  he  has  entered  pub- 
lic lands  under  any  of  the  other 
agricultural  public  land  laws 
through  settlement  made  since 
August  30,  1890,  the  lands  must 
not  aggregate  more  than  320 
acres. 


An  entryman  is  allowed  320 
acres,  but  if  a  smaller  amount  is 
entered  his  right  is  exhausted. 
If  a  person  has  acquired  since 
August  30th,  1890,  under  any  of 
the  agricultural  land  laws,  lands 
which  exceed  in  the  aggregate 
320  acres,  he  is  not  entitled  to 
make  a  desert  land  entry  for  any 
quantity  whatever. 

How  Entries  Should  be  Made 

Applications  to  enter  either  desert  or  homestead  land 
must  be  ma4e  upon  the  blanks  furnished  for  the  purpose  by 
the  Land  Office  and  sworn  to  before  the  registrar  or  receiver 
of  a  United  States  land  office,  before  a  United  States  commis- 
sioner, or  a  judge  or  clerk, of  a  court  of  record  in  the  county 
or  district  in  which  the  land  lies,  or  before  any  official  of  the 
classes  named  who  resides  in  the  land  district,  and  is  nearest 
and  most  accessible  to  the  land,  although  he  may  reside  out- 
side of  the  county  in  which  the  land  is  situated. 


Applicant  must  swear  that  he 
is  personally  acquainted  with  the 
character  of  the  land  by  actual 
inspection ;  that  it  is  not  mineral 
or  saline;  that  it  is  not  occupied; 
that  applicant  possesses  the  qual- 
ifications necessary  for  a  home- 
stead entryman ;  and  that  the  en- 
try is  made  in  good  faith  and  not 
for  the  benefit  of  any  person,  cor- 
poration or  syndicate. 


Applicant's  affidavit  must  show 
that  he  is  personally  acquainted 
with  the  land  by  actual  inspec- 
tion; that  it  is  desert  land;  that 
it  is  not  mineral  or  saline;  that  it 
is  unoccupied ;  and  must  state 
that  he  intends  to  reclaim  it  by 
irrigation  within  four  years.  Two 
witnesses,  who  must  appear  with 
him,  must  also  swear  that  they 
are  personally  acquainted  with 
the  land. 


Additional  and  Second  Entries 


Any  person  wrho  has  received 
patent  for  less  than  160  acres 
may  file  upon  an  amount  of  land 
equal  to  the  difference,  or  less. 
By  an  act  approved  February  3, 
1911,  any  person  who,  prior  to 
the  passage  of  the  act  has  made 
entry  under  the  homestead  laws, 
but  has  lost,  forfeited  or  aband- 
oned the  same,  unless  his  entry 
was  canceled  for  fraud  or  relin- 
quished for  a  valuable  considera- 
tion, in  excess  of  the  filing  fees, 
shall  be  entitled  to  the  benefits 
of  the  homestead  law  as  though 
such  former  entry  had  not  been 
made.  Persons  who  commuted 


Any  person  who  made  entry 
prior  to  February  3,  1911,  and 
subsequently  has  lost,  forfeited, 
or  abandoned  his  entry  made  un- 
der the  desert  land  law  shall  be 
entitled  to  the  benefit  of  the  law 
as  though  former  entry  had  not 
been  made,  except  in  cases  where 
the  former  entry  was  assigned  in 
whole  or  part,  canceled  for  fraud 
or  relinquished  for  a  valuable 
consideration  in  excess  of  the  fil- 
ing fees. 

Relinquishments      and      Assign- 
ments of  Desert  Entries 

A  desert  land  entry  may  be  re- 


HOMESTEAD  ENTRY 

homestead  entries  prior  to  May 
17,  1900,  on  lands  to  which  they 
would  have  afterwards  been  en- 
titled without  payment  under  the 
Free  Homes  Act,  may  also  file 
a  second  homestead  application. 

Commutation  of  Homestead  En- 
tries 

All  original,  second  and  addi- 
tional homestead  entries  may  be 
commuted,  except  where  especi- 
ally forbidden  by  law.  Continu- 
ous residence  and  cultivation  for 
fourteen  months  or  more  entitles 
an  entryman,  or  his  widow,  heirs 
or  devisees,  to  obtain  patent  by 
paying  the  land  office  fees  and 
$1.25  per  acre  outside  the  limits 
of  railroad  grants,  and  $2.50 
within  such  limits,  except  for 
lands  under  statutes  specifically 
requiring  different  payment. 


Requirements 

A  homestead  entryman  is  re- 
quired to  establish  residence  upon 
the  land  within  six  months  of  the 
date  of  the  allowance  of  his  entry 
unless  he  is  granted  an  extension 
of  time  by  the  Commissioner  of 
the  General  Land  Office.  He  is 
allowed  one  period  of  absence  for 
not  to  exceed  five  months  during 


DESERT  LAND  ENTRY 

linquished  at  any  time  by  the 
party  who  has  entered  the  same 
and  when  relinquishments  are 
iilcd  in  the  local  land  office  the 
entries  will  be  cancelled.  Desert 
land  may  be  assigned.  Persons 
to  whom  land  is  assigned  must 
possess  qualifications  required  for 
entryman,  never  having  previ- 
ously had  an  entry  or  any  other 
assignment.  Purchasers  of  relin- 
quishments of  fraudulent  filings 
or  entries  must  understand  they 
purchase  at  their  own  risk,  and 
must  seek  remedies  under  local 
laws  from  those  who  have  ob- 
tained their  money  without  valu- 
able consideration.  While  it  is 
one  of  the  most  generous  laws, 
yet  the  desert  land  act  has  been 
conducive  of  more  fraud  probably 
than  any  other  public  land  law, 
due  largely  to  the  credulity  of  the 
citizen  filing  on  lands  under  this 
act.  The  history  of  the  past  ten 
years  in  the  public  land  states 
shows  that  smooth-talking  specu- 
lators and  unscrupulous  promot- 
ters  have  repeatedly  organized  ir- 
rigation schemes,  and  with  a 
pretty  map  made  by  a  crooked 
engineer,  showing  the  possibili- 
ties of  obtaining  water,  the  hun- 
gry land  seeker  has  been  induced 
to  part  with  his  money  for  stock 
in  the  irrigation  enterprise  and 
then  to  make  a  desert  land  entry 
on  lands  under  the  project  where 
there  never  was  and  never  will  be 
any  possibility  of  securing  the 
necessary  water. 

of  Final  Proof 

Entryman  is  allowed  four  years 
from  date  of  entry  in  which  to 
complete  reclamation  of  the  land. 
During  each  of  the  first,  second 
and  third  years  he  must  have  ex- 
pended at  least  one  dollar  per 
acre  for  improvements  and  re- 
clamation of  the  land,  and  at  or 
before  the  end  of  each  year  he 


HOMESTEAD  ENTRY 

each  .year  of  the  life  of  the  entry; 
but  must  actually  reside  upon  his 
land  the  balance  of  the  time.  Dur- 
ing the  second  year  one-sixteenth 
of  the  area  of  the  land  entered 
must  be  cultivated  to  an  agricul- 
tural or  horticultural  crop  and 
during  the  third  and  each  year 
thereafter  until  final  proof  is 
made,  one-eighth  of  the  land 
must  be  cultivated.  Final  proof 
may  be  made  on  the  expiration 
of  three  years  from  the  allowance 
of  the  entry  but  must  be  made 
within  five  years. 

A  soldier  or  sailor  who  has 
served  in  the  Civil,  Spanish  or 
Philippine  wars,  may  after  one 
year's  residence  and  cultivation 
which  must  have  begun  within 
six  months  of  date  of  entry,  apply 
on  the  remainder  of  his  three 
years  the  actual  time  of  his  nav- 
al or  military  service,  or  the  en- 
tire time  for  which  he  enlisted 
where  he  has  been  discharged  for 
wounds  or  disabilities  received  in 
the  line  of  duty.  But  this  time 
will  not  be  allowed  to  exceed  two 
years.  Entryman  must  personally 
make  final  proof,  or,  in  case  of  his 
death,  it  must  be  made  by  his 
widow  heirs,  or  devisees.  Notice 
of  intention  to  prove  up  must  be 
given  by  publication,  in  manner 
prescribed  by  law.  Final  proof 
may  be  made  before  any  of  the 
officers  before  enumerated,  but 
preferably  before  the  registrar  or 
receiver. 


DESERT  LAND  ENTIV 

must  have  filed  with  the  registn 
and  receiver  proof    of    such    e 
penditure.       With     third     yeai 
proof  a  map  or  plan  should 
been     filed.     Annual     and     fin; 
proofs  are  made  before  any  of  t] 
officers  enumerated  under 
Entries   Should   Be   Made."     E: 
penditures  may    be    for    ditche] 
canals,  dams,  fences,  roads,  fin 
breaking    of    the     soil,     erectii 
barns,  digging  wells  or  in  sto< 
or  interest  in  an  irrigating  coi 
pany  approved  by  the   Secretai 
of  the  Interior,  by  which  water 
furnished  to  irrigate  the  land. 
After   notice   of  publication, 
manner  prescribed  by  law,  of  ij 
tention  to  make  final  proof,  cLaii 
ant  with  two  witnesses  must 
pear    before    any   of   the   officei 
previously  mentioned,   and  mal 
proof  of  the  reclamation,  cultiv; 
tion  and  improvement  of  the  lan< 
Wherever  possible,  claimants  ai 
advised  to  make  proof  before  tl 
registrar    or    receiver,    as   prooi 
made    before    other    officers   ai 
frequently  suspended  for  invest] 
gation  by  a  special  agent.   Whei 
there  has  been  unavoidable  del; 
in  the  work  of  reclamation,  entr 
man  may  be  allowed  three  yeai 
additional     before     making     fin; 
proof,    upon    application    to    tl 
commissioner     of     the      Generj 
Land  Office. 


Expenditures,  Fees  and  Commissions 


Except  where  he  commutes  his 
entry,  a  homesteader  pays  noth- 
ing for  his  land.  At  time  of  en- 
try, fees  and  commissions  pre- 
scribed by  law  amount  to  about 
$16  or  $22,  according  to  the 
amount  of  land.  At  time  of  mak- 
ing final  proof  the  fees  and  com- 
missions will  amount  to  about 
$11  to  $15. 


In  addition  to  the  expenditu: 
of  $1  per  acre  per  year  for  thn 
years,  entryman  pays  25c  p< 
acre  upon  filing,  and  $1  per  aci 
upon  making  final  proof.  Th< 
are  no  fees  and  commissions 
cident  to  filing,  and  those  at  finj 
proof  will  be  from  $2.25  to  $3.f 


Gaylord  Bros. 

Makers 

Syracuse.  N.  Y. 
PAT.  JAN.  21.  I9U 


YC  26784 


91834V 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


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